BOY & BEAR UNEARTH SONGS FROM ‘HARLEQUIN DREAM’ ARCHIVES SHARING NEW SINGLE ‘ABRAHAM’ NEW EP ‘LOST DREAMS’ DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 15 + ‘HARLEQUIN DREAM’ 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY VINYL DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 1
Exactly 10 years on from the release of their chart topping, ARIA-nominated album Harlequin Dream, Sydney’s Boy & Bear return today with a brand new single Abraham alongside the announcement of a new EP Lost Dreams; and the timing is no mere coincidence, with the new material comprised of found songs taken from the Harlequin Dream studio time. A celebration and continuation of the band’s most successful album to date, the Lost Dreams chapter launches today via the sun-soaked Abraham, ahead of the EP’s release on Friday September 15 amid the band embarking on an extensive regional tour throughout September, October and well into November.
A jubilant blend of folk, blues and pop, Abraham seamlessly unfurls with undulating vocals, sparkling instrumentation and pulsing yet sparse rhythms, equally floating and foot-stomping in trademark Boy & Bear fashion. Offering a track that is just as at home in 2023 as it was back in the band’s Harlequin Dream era, drawing inspiration from the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Band of Horses amongst many others, Abraham’s unfettered groove-laden 70s pop charm presents as part time machine and part celebration for Boy & Bear, as lead vocalist and guitarist David Hosking explains, “I think It’s always interesting looking back and listening to old tunes. On one level the band has come such a long way but it’s also exciting to be able to reflect on the way we were approaching songwriting back then. I think we were definitely more traditional in that most songs had these big choruses and sing along moments and Abraham definitely sits in that world. Hopefully people can connect with that old approach”. And Abraham’s footloose whimsy was certainly no accident at the time, as vocalist and instrumentalist Jon Hart reflects, “It’s a bit of a time warp listening back to Abraham, I can remember where I was sitting in the studio when we recorded it and what life felt like back then. We’ve always been classic overthinkers in the studio, but I think that Abraham sounds pretty free and just like we went in and played it without labouring over it too much.”
With three new songs retrieved from the Harlequin Dream studio archives lying in wait on their upcoming EP, including the blissful Abraham, the jaunty emotives of Eye Of The Canyon and the neofolk charm of Mexico, the trip down Boy & Bear memory lane was not initially a journey the band had ever planned on taking. With all three tracks written by the band themselves, co-produced by Wayne Conolly, mixed by Phil Ek and mastered by Greg Calbi, the eventual road to Lost Dreams initially started with actual loss, with the EP’s finished singles seemingly lost in the void before the mastered files were saved and pulled from the depths. “We were all definitely aware of the songs’ existence,” says guitarist Killian Gavin, “but just like the growing folder of songs we never finish, I don’t think we ever thought they would see the light of day. We couldn’t find the files for the songs so we ended up speaking to Phil Ek (who mixed the album) to try and track down the mixes, then he put us in touch with the mastering team who were surprisingly able to track down the mastered files from 10 years ago!”. And, as bass player David Symes reveals, the unearthing of the seemingly lost tracks opened the floodgates to the Boy & Bear experience over a decade ago, “It’s like finding an old t-shirt in the bottom of the draw when you move house. Kind of like: wow, remember that!? It brings back memories and feelings from that time, everything from the light that filtered in through the window while we were recording, to the meals we shared at the end of the day.”
An organic expansion on the album that snagged multiple ARIA award nominations, a triple j award nomination and saw Boy & Bear achieve their first ever ARIA #1, as well as spawning the band’s breakout single, triple Platinum Southern Sun which has amassed over 80 million individual streams to date, Lost Dreams not only sonically expands on the Harlequin Dream universe established in 2013; its artwork also comes full circle, with Harlequin Dream’s artist Vaughan Flanagan returning to conjure the aptly dream-like Lost Dreams cover, as Gavin elaborates, “We came up with the elaborate concept and drew a mock up (very poor version compared to the final) – then we got the wonderful Vaughan Flanagan to do the heavy liftingand bring it all to life”. And as to the new cover’s concept, Hosking reveals, “We definitely came up with the concept of the artwork. We wanted it to feel dreamy to tie in with the title. There was an old film I can’t remember the name of, but it had all these cowboys attempting to tie down a T-rex which was pretty cool and that became part of the inspiration. I’ve always had a love too for anthropomorphism and wanted to embrace that to give the artwork this other worldly feeling”.
Since forming in 2009, Boy & Bear have consistently presented as a band focused on moving to the beat of their own drum, while also continually and effortlessly enamouring with their dulcet yet refreshing brand of indie rock. A band hellbent on creative curiosity and pushing themselves as musicians and songwriters, Boy & Bear have attained a level of staying power most artists could only dream of; and all without sacrificing their authentic vision and driving love for their craft. Achieving early career support from triple j and triple j Unearthed, Boy & Bear swiftly catapulted into national contenders, releasing their double-platinum debut album Moonfire in 2011, which went on to snag five coveted ARIA award wins. Since then, 2013’s Harlequin Dream and 2015’s Limit Of Love only strengthened Boy & Bear’s expansive presence, with both albums charting at #1, and Harlequin Dream marking the group’s second studio album to go Platinum. From 2019’s Suck on Light to 2023’s self-titled full length, Boy & Bear have continued to grow and strengthen professionally amidst the ever-changing musical climate – and there’s zero sign of slowing down anytime soon in the land of Boy & Bear, including a special 10 year anniversary Harlequin Dream vinyl set for release on Friday September 1 ahead of the Lost Dreams EP release two weeks later.
Having performed across the globe throughout their career, including multiple world tours and appearances at the likes of Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Splendour in the Grass, Boy & Bear are equally capable and comfortable onstage to sold out crowds at the Sydney Opera House as they are performing on Conan O’Brien, and fans across Australia will be able to witness the insatiable past, present and future of Boy & Bear live in action later this year, with a huge regional tour that will kick off on September 13 in Castlemaine, Victoria, before closing out on November 26 at Queenscliff Music Festival in Victoria. With five shows already sold out, the upcoming Boy & Bear tour is set to be something truly special for all involved, as Symes shares, “Jumping up on the Band Stand and performing is a place where our songs can take on a new life and journey through the live experience. The journey of a band and a song is endless, and our live show is always evolving”. And there will be plenty of surprises as Boy & Bear continue their incredible journey into 2023 and beyond, as Hosking concludes, “A new refreshed set list of old and new tunes. It’s been fun already on the Australian tour piecing together some old songs we’d never really played alongside new songs off the new record. I like to think our set is like a train setting off. It starts off with a subtle momentum and by the end we are in full flight and feeling unstoppable.”
Abraham is out today, Wednesday August 16.
Harlequin Dream 10 year anniversary vinyl is set for release Friday September 1.
Lost Dreams is due out Friday September 15.
BOY & BEAR – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
Tickets available from www.boyandbear.com
WED 13 SEP | THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE VIC | 18+
THU 14 SEP | GPAC, TRARALGON VIC | ALL-AGES
FRI 15 SEP | PIER BANDROOM, FRANKSTON VIC | 18+
SAT 16 SEP| TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY VIC (SOLD OUT)
SUN 17 SEP | TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY VIC | 18+
THU 21 SEP | BEER DELUXE, ALBURY NSW | 18+
FRI 22 SEP | ANITAS THEATRE, THIRROUL NSW | ALL-AGES
THU 28 SEP | NEWCASTLE CIVIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+
FRI 29 SEP | DRIFTERS WHARF, CENTRAL COAST NSW | 18+
SAT 30 SEP | BLUE MOUNTAINS THEATRE + COMMUNITY HUB, BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW (SOLD OUT)
WED 4 OCT | ALBANY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ALBANY WA | ALL-AGES
THU 5 OCT | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA | 18+
FRI 6 OCT | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA (SOLD OUT)
SAT 7 OCT | OUT OF THE WOODS FESTIVAL, FREMANTLE WA | 18+
WED 11 OCT | SEABREEZE HOTEL, MACKAY QLD | 18+
THU 12 OCT | MAGNUMS, AIRLIE BEACH QLD | 18+
FRI13 OCT | JCU UNIBAR, TOWNSVILLE QLD | 18+
SAT 14 OCT | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD | 18+
SUN 15 OCT | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD (SOLD OUT)
WED 8 NOV | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST QLD | 18+
THU 9 NOV | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST QLD (SOLD OUT)
FRI 10 NOV | BURLEIGH BAZAAR, GOLD COAST QLD | 18+
SAT 11 NOV | EMPIRE THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA QLD | ALL-AGES
SAT 23 NOV | SHOALHAVEN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, NOWRA NSW
SUN 26 NOV | QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL, QUEENSCLIFF VIC | ALL-AGES
JORDAN WILSON SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘TERMINALS’
The sonic equivalent of entering a dream world, the new single Terminals, the latest outing from Sydney singer-songwriter Jordan Wilson, murmurs and charms with otherworldly delights. Inspired by a cultural reset, Leonard Cohen and some well-timed real life absurdity, Terminals is also today accompanied by the release of a captivating and potent music video. And Jordan Wilson fans can also catch him performing the new single and many other musical delights alongside Motion Sickness at The Chippo Hotel in Sydney on Thursday 24 November and The Old Bar in Melbourne on Wednesday 7 December.
A fluid, intimate and atmospheric dive into Jordan’s heady musical world, Terminals marks the second single from Jordan’s solo endeavours, following on from the melancholic and delectably gripping 2021 track Totem. Boasting glimmering soundscapes, lush melodics and languid intensity, Terminals charms in its abstract yet approachable creative universe, as if Thom Yorke, Nick Cave and Agnes Obel were billowing through a dream accompanied by Jordan’s ever-emboldened stylings. Also inspired by Jordan’s own personal juxtaposition experienced after returning from living in Europe and being on a jobsite back home, Terminals grew from a moment of absurdity into something with much deeper meaning, as Jordan explains, “Terminals was written after I had just gotten back from a stint living in Europe. I was a bit down and lost so my father corralled me in to coming to work for him. My body was in shock from going from sipping lattes on the Parisian streets to digging holes in the Australian suburbs. I overheard one of the other workers at lunch after going to the toilet: “You know mate, no matter how hard I shake it, there’s always two drops left”. I was eating lunch by myself, but it made me laugh out loud on the spot. Something about the absurdity of it all brought me back to earth and I was able to start writing again. That line means something else to me now, but it helps me to appreciate the many situations that life can throw you in.”
Working with Daniel Lee Kendall on Terminals, with Daniel co-producing and mixing, the sublime new track was mixed by William Bowden, while its equally mesmerising accompanying music video was brought to life by frequent Jordan collaborator Odin Umeofia as well as Jordan’s brother and fellow artist Lavrence. Featuring Jordan and his partner Maia Marsh, the clip ultimately embodies the notions of transformation and uncertainties, frequently flipping the watcher in and beyond the physical lighthouse, with the fanciful lyrical and ambient music coating proceedings. Devised by Jordan himself alongside his team, the end result draws you deeper into the Terminals narrative while, overall, blending hope with the unknown. “I came up with the concept of this clip alongside my collaborator Odin Umeofia and my brother Lavrence always helps as well,” shares Jordan of the Terminals music video. “My partner Maia Marsh who plays under her own name and a band called Motion Sickness features in it with me. It’s set at/in a lighthouse which represents the Terminal or house of transformation. It’s a powerful image as it sits on the coast as an isolated figure and calls out to the great unknown, guiding ghostly ships to shore. The clip cuts from ‘inside’ the lighthouse to out. I wanted the inner world to be freaky and spoofy to represent the underworld of the psyche and have that release of the outside shots culminating in the final lines of the song, ‘We know the way out’.”
An artist, songwriter and performer already firmly established for his work with indie duo Georgia Fair, Jordan has been steadily evolving his own solo creative works, with a debut solo album building on the horizon following the release of his debut solo single Totem and its follow up Terminals. Signing a major label deal at the age of 21, Jordan has previously landed two albums in the Top 100 ARIA charts, lived and recorded in Australia, Europe and America, and has previously toured and performed alongside the likes of John Mayer, Paul Kelly and Kate Miller-Heidke. Also recently publishing his first ever book last year, a collection of short stories and poems Some Short, Some Long, Jordan is set to weave more musical and creative magic beyond 2022; but there’s still plenty of magic left as the year draws to a close, including some live shows on the cards set to showcase even more Jordan’s solo work up close and personal, as Jordan concludes, “I think I’ll be going out as a duo for this run of shows. I’m still writing the album and trying songs out on the audience, so it’s nice to show them bare bones to really get down to the core of the message and see what comes across and what doesn’t.”
Terminals is out today, Friday November 18.
JORDAN WILSON – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
THURS 24 NOV | THE CHIPPO HOTEL, CHIPPENDALE NSW
Supporting Motion Sickness
WED 7 DEC | THE OLD BAR, FITZROY VIC
Supporting Motion Sickness
AMY SHEPPARD SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘BLUE GUITAR’ ANNOUNCES DEBUT EP ‘NOTHING BUT WILD’ SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 16
After years spent as part of one of Australia’s most popular musical exports, Amy Sheppard has gone solo, with new single Blue Guitar offering a second taste of her forthcoming debut EP, Nothing But Wild – set for release on September 16 and available to pre-order on vinyl and CD from https://www.amysheppardofficial.com/. Following on from the arrival of the title track in April, Blue Guitar is an immersive piece of vibrant country pop from the iconic Queensland artist.
Inspired to share a modern twist on the classic ‘90s ballads from iconic names like LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain, Blue Guitar is as fierce as it is sparkling, bolstered by impassioned lyricism, a mesmerically powerful performance style, and dreamy instrumentation that transports the listener to the glory days of country music. Working with producers Lindsay Rimes (Kylie Minogue, Luke Bryan, Troye Sivan) and Stuart Stuart (Sheppard, Dean Lewis, The Veronicas), it emerged as the first country song that Amy wrote, who took it to brother George Sheppard for some further musical insights. Before long, it took on a new life as her favourite song from her upcoming EP. As Amy explains, “I really leaned into the beauty of country music storytelling. Country music gives permission for songwriters to weave creative stories and this is where Blue Guitar was born. The storyline follows a woman who returns to visit her small hometown. When she enters a local bar, she is taken aback by a familiar voice. The man singing on the stage is her former lover who never quite made the big time. She notices he is still playing his blue guitar- the same one he used to write love songs to her on. She is filled with the same old feelings she had for him and begins to wonder if the songs he is singing today are still about her.”
The accompanying video for Blue Guitar sees Amy Sheppard working with Natalie Sim and Alex Flamsteed from Method to my Madness, having previously teamed up with them for the clip to debut single, Nothing But Wild. With a resumé that also boasts clips for the likes of Jaguar Jonze and Sahara Beck, Amy notes that she felt like she was in safe hands as she stripped things back for the ethereal video. “I wanted to go back to basics and capture this video as a vocal performance with the usual other elements stripped back. We filmed it in the iconic Princess Theatre in Brisbane. I was also inspired by the mood and lighting of videos by James Bay and LeAnn Rimes.”
Having launched her musical career as a member of Sheppard which she founded with her brother George in 2009, Amy Sheppard has enjoyed global chart success on numerous occasions. This year however sees her going solo for the first time, with Nothing But Wild set to arrive on September 16 as her debut EP. Working with a number of impressive songwriters for the EP – including Trannie Anderson (Reba McEntire, Gabby Barrett), George Sheppard, Jason Bovino (Sheppard), The Wolfe Brothers, and Phil Barton (The Buckleys, The McClymonts), to name a few – it’s a powerful release, and one that means a lot to Amy as a person and an artist. As she explains, the EP focuses on, “the spontaneity of love – whether it’s rosy, messy or somewhere in between. Love by its very nature can send you off in many directions. This EP aims to capture that from different points of view.”
With the imminent release of Nothing But Wild, Amy Sheppard will also be complementing its release with a number of live performances during August, September, and October, including a hometown launch show at Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall on release day – with GA tickets on sale for this show at 12pm AEST on Wednesday August 10. While any live show is an exciting experience for Amy, she notes that the solo nature of these shows will serve as something even more special for dedicated fans. As she explains, “I hope they’ll have a great time! It’s a combination of the EP tracks, some inspired covers and also some of the songs I recently wrote in Nashville. Should be a great show and I can’t wait to perform as a solo artist!”
Blue Guitar is out today, August 5, while new EP Nothing But Wild will be released September 16 and is available to pre-order on vinyl and CD from https://www.amysheppardofficial.com/ and digital https://amysheppard.lnk.to/NothingButWild-EP
AMY SHEPPARD – BLUE GUITAR – Official single artwork
AMY SHEPPARD BLUE GUITAR LAUNCH SHOWS
FRI 12 AUG | EKKA, BRISBANE QLD | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ekka.com.au
SAT 10 SEPT | COUNTRY MUSIC RACEDAY, DOOMBEN RACECOURSE, BRISBANE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.brc.com.au
FRI 16 SEPT | NOTHING BUT WILD EP LAUNCH, LEFTY’S OLD TIME MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.amysheppardofficial.com
THUR 23 SEPT | CMC ROCKS QLD 2022, IPSWICH QLD | ALL AGES
SOLD OUT
SAT 1 OCT | SAVANNAH IN THE ROUND, MAREEBA QLD | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.savannahintheround.com.au